DMSP OLS Global Cloud and Nighttime Imagery Archive

DMSP OLS satellite data provides visible and infrared imagery for monitoring global cloud distribution and cloud top temperatures twice daily. The archive includes low-resolution global and high-resolution regional imagery from a 3,000 km scan, alongside satellite ephemeris and solar/lunar information. Data is sourced from the DMSP Operational Linescan System instruments and archived by NOAA NCEI.

Use Cases

• Analyze global cloud distribution patterns using twice-daily visible and infrared imagery.
• Estimate cloud top temperatures from infrared pixel values calibrated across a 190 to 310 Kelvin range.
• Study nighttime light emissions by comparing Photo Multiplier Tube (PMT) values with daytime telescope pixel data.
• Monitor regional phenomena using high-resolution (0.55 km) fine mode imagery versus low-resolution (2.7 km) smooth mode data.
• Calibrate models using onboard calibration data performed during each scan and instrumental gain level adjustments.

Strengths

• Infrared data is calibrated across 256 equally spaced steps for a 190-310 Kelvin temperature range.
• Provides both global low-resolution and regional high-resolution imagery from a 3,000 km scan.
• Data collection occurs twice each day, enabling diurnal cycle analysis.

Limitations

• Visible pixel values are relative (0-63 scale), not absolute radiance measurements in Watts per m^2.
• Specific temporal coverage, total row count, and update recency are unknown from the description.
• Data fusion is required as low-resolution values are means of 25 high-resolution pixels.

Provenance

Source

DMSP Operational Linescan System instruments, archived by NOAA NCEI.

Collection Method

Satellite-based remote sensing via visible and infrared scanners, with onboard calibration during each scan.

Geography

Global coverage.